Catchers Chris Iannetta, left, and Hank Conger of the Angels bring their own unique skills to their position. GETTY IMAGES

ANAHEIM – Meet Angels catcher Crank Iannonger.

He’s a switch-hitter with a high on-base percentage and enough pop to make a pitcher pay for a mistake. He’s known for his ability to frame pitches, and pitchers like working with him.

If only he were just one player. …

Three quarters of the way through the season, the Angels’ dual catcher system is as dual as ever. Chris Iannetta and Hank Conger continue to split time. Iannetta has started 62 games and Conger 55, neither able to take over as a true starting catcher.

“On the field, I think we complement each other really well,” Iannetta said. “As much as we both want to play every day and we both strive to play as much as possible. But for the team to be able to have a righty or a lefty and not lose much behind the plate is a good thing.”

The Angels catchers have combined for a .718 OPS, which is tied for fourth in the American League. They are handling a pitching staff that ranks fifth in the league in ERA.

As for which catcher plays on a given day, the only near certainty is that Iannetta, a right-handed hitter, starts against the left-handed pitchers. Those games against right-handers is when Manager Mike Scioscia really has a decision to make. Conger, a switch-hitter who is better from the left side, has started against two-thirds of the righties.

Scioscia, a former catcher, has always insisted that the defensive component is more important.

“I think that the biggest impact they’ve had on our season and our game is the evolution of their play behind the plate, especially feeling comfortable with the game plan and helping the pitcher execute a game plan,” Scioscia said. “I think that both those guys have done a terrific job of that, and there’s been a lot of growth in both guys from the defensive aspect.”

A catcher’s work behind the plate can basically be split into three main components: calling a game, receiving/blocking and throwing.

For throwing, the numbers don’t tell the entire story because the pitcher has a large role in slowing down the running game. Conger has thrown out 28 percent of would-be base-stealers and Iannetta has thrown out 30 percent. The league average is 28 percent.

As for receiving and blocking, Iannetta has three passed balls and Conger has one. There have been 32 wild pitches with Iannetta behind the plate, and 29 with Conger. Iannetta has been behind the plate for 53 percent of the plate appearances this season.

The difference, however, shows up in the performance of the pitchers. Angels pitchers have a 3.43 ERA with Conger behind the plate and 3.88 with Iannetta behind the plate. Iannetta has closed the gap on Conger in that number. Last year it was 4.55 to 3.68 in Conger’s favor.

Studies of umpires’ calls on borderline pitches have shown that Conger is exceptional at getting calls for his pitchers. This season, Angels pitchers have 3.33 strikeouts per walk with Conger, compared to 2.34 with Iannetta.

“It’s something to strive for,” Iannetta said. “Whatever I can do to be better, I’ll do. I think it’s pretty close. It’s not a tremendous difference.”

Defensive numbers — for all players, but especially for catchers — are not nearly as reliable as offensive stats. As far as those are concerned, Iannetta has the clear edge this season.

Iannetta has a .774 OPS, which ranks third in the American League among catchers with at least 200 plate apperances. He’s behind only Oakland’s Derek Norris and Cleveland’s Yan Gomes. Iannetta’s .363 on-base percentage is second only to Mike Trout on the Angels. Conger has a .633 OPS, including a .298 on-base percentage.

For Iannetta, it’s been the continuation of a hot streak that started when he began using contact lenses in the last two months of the 2013 season.

Conger, who was considered by many to have more offensive upside than Iannetta, concedes that his numbers have been disappointing this season.

“It’s one of those things where the results aren’t there, but it feels so close to clicking,” Conger said. “The numbers aren’t showing up now, but I feel like I’m putting up good swings.”

Considering the way the two players skill sets have unfolded, it’s no surprise that the playing time has been split so evenly. Aside from the predictable games against a left-handed starter, they say they rarely have an idea before arriving at the ballpark who is playing.

“At first I didn’t like it,” Conger said of the uncertainty, “but at the same time it’s kind of good. Both guys come to the field expecting to play.”

Said Iannetta: “I just roll with it. Come to the field and see who’s playing that day. If I’m there or not, I plan accordingly.”

The players said the job-sharing arrangement works because of their attitudes about it, and about each other.

“Me and Hank both need to play, and we both want to play every day,” Iannetta said. “That’s just our competitiveness. But something that transcends our competitiveness is our friendship. We help each other more than a lot of people see.”

Conger said last spring, when he was having a very public bout with wildness in his throwing, Iannetta was right there with the coaches trying to help him.

“If we had our choice, both of us would play 162 games,” Conger said, “but that’s not reality. We know whoever is performing better will get more playing time as the season goes on. But we really try to help each other get better in any area we can.”

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